From a piece I have running on the “Think” section of the NBC News website:

Among the most enviable and least recognized qualities of a presidential candidate is something they share with lottery winners and bowling champions: a talent for dumb luck. And for those politicians blessed with this wholly undeserved and unearned gift, the most valuable form of it, the lucky break coveted over all others, is a lousy opponent.

President Donald Trump demonstrated such talent in abundance in 2016 when he faced the widely despised Hillary Clinton. For anyone who had trouble voting for Trump because of various concerns about his character, the alternative of punching a chad for Clinton made things much easier.

This is not to say Trump won’t earn the presidency. Or that he did not in 2016, either. He adroitly tapped into a gold mine of discontent with the established order, understanding the anger in the hinterland far better than the professional politicians and pundits who couldn’t see the problems with the establishment because they were part of it. But he also got lucky with his opponent — and he barely won.

Beto O’Rourke is not going to win the Democratic primary. But his plan to confiscate guns from law-abiding citizen could destroy whoever does win it.

That’s because what conservatives have always suspected about Democrats is that in the end, what they want to do is abolish the Second Amendment and take away people’s guns. Beto provides evidence that this is exactly the case. And plenty of people will vote against the future Democratic nominee based on this concern.

Beto wants everyone’s AR-15’s. These among the most popular firearms. And plenty of good people want one not just because they are fun to shoot at the range, but because they want to make sure they are as well-armed as whoever breaks into there house.

Just imagine him sending the cops in to take those guns. Because that’s what he’ll have to do. Talk about a volatile situation.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shut down press questions about whether the House is conducting a formal impeachment inquiry as some lawmakers claim.

“I’m not answering any more questions about a possible inquiry, investigation, and the rest,” Pelosi tersely told reporters who asked her about the matter at her weekly press conference.

Pelosi’s frustration led her to walk away from the podium, cutting her press conference short after calling for the media to focus on the Senate GOP’s refusal to take up a Democratic proposal to expand background checks for gun purchases.

“Why is it that you are hung up with a word over here when lives are at stake over there?” the California Democrat said, walking out of the room.

According to the Washington Examiner: One of the people President Trump honored for his heroism during a mass shooting in an El Paso Walmart last month was arrested by the Secret Service during his visit to the White House on Monday due to an outstanding criminal warrant, law enforcement officials told the Washington Examiner. Police say his tale… Continue Reading

8:40 am || With the first lady, observes a moment of silence; South Lawn9:30 am || With the first lady, participates in a September 11th Pentagon Observance Ceremony; Arlington, Virginia1:30 pm || Receives his intelligence briefing All times Eastern Facebook Twitter Reddit Linkedin email Continue Reading

President Trump today said he had fired National Security Advisor John Bolton. By the tone of Trump’s tweet, this was not a happy parting. I imagine Bolton, who is a hothead, probably went too far. Bolton had a slightly different take on how it went down. Facebook Twitter Reddit Linkedin email Continue Reading

Because people will cooperate, you see? And those who don’t cooperate, we won’t send in the cops. Except, maybe, if they need a little more convincing to voluntarily comply with the mandatory confiscation. Then maybe the police will stop by, you know, have some coffee, ask a few questions. According to the Washington Examiner’s Kerry… Continue Reading